Forklift needed to haul away massive 24-foot shark after it washed up on a UK beach

A giant 24-foot shark has washed up on a UK beach, with a forklift needed to haul the creature off the shore.

A 24-foot shark washed up on a United Kingdom beach over the weekend and a forklift was needed to haul the massive beast off the shore, wild photos show.

The carcass of a basking shark — the second-largest living fish in the sea — was seen swaying up and down in the waters off Maidens Beach in Scotland on Sunday, the New York Post reports.

Onlookers initially believed they spotted a whale until animal research and rescue groups responded and identified the animal.

A forklift was needed to haul the massive shark off the shore. Picture: Jam Press/Yolanda McCall

The creature had washed up on a beach in Scotland on Sunday. Picture: Jam Press/Yolanda McCall

Beach-goer Yolanda McCall, of Ayrshire, said it was difficult to tell if the marine animal was still alive from the shore.

“The creature was bobbing around in the water and we couldn’t tell if it was dead or alive,” she told What’s The Jam.

“I wanted to try to help it, if it was alive and floundering, so I put on a wetsuit and got in the water to check.”

But when she got closer, she realised it was dead.

“It was tangled in a long loop of rope, in its mouth and caught around its tail,” Ms McCall said. “Maybe it got tired trying to free itself.”

She added that it looked like the shark had only recently died.

Ms McCall contacted British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDLMR) and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) teams to assist.

Beach-goer Yolanda McCall first thought the shark was a whale due to its massive size. Picture: Jam Press/Yolanda McCall

Ms McCall suggested it may have “got tired trying to free itself”. Picture: Jam Press/Yolanda McCall

After the carcass washed up onto the sand, teams used a forklift to pick up the big fish and haul it off the beach.

“After the tide went out, we could see the full beautiful big creature,” McCall said. “[It was] very sad.”

Basking sharks can reach up to 30 feet in length. Though their massive size and gaping jaws can be a terrifying sight, the toothless sharks are harmless to humans and other fish as they only dine on plankton.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and has been reproduced with permission.